Former USC coach, Gators star Reaves arrested in Tampa

TAMPA, Fla. — Police in Tampa say former South Carolina assistant and University of Florida star John Reaves had cocaine on him when they arrested him for pointing a gun at two men during a dispute.

Tampa police reports say the 58-year-old Reaves was arrested Wednesday in connection with the gun episode four days earlier. A police report released Monday says a deputy who searched Reaves at the jail found a plastic bag in his pocket containing cocaine.

Reaves is charged with aggravated assault with a firearm, possession of cocaine and introducing contraband into a detention facility. He is free on a $9,000 bond.

Reaves’ attorney, Nicholas Matassini, said his client plans to plead not guilty to all the charges.

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The former 1972 first-round draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles was an assistant at USC from 1995-97 under Brad Scott.

Dewberry added to list of suspended Bulldogs. High expectations for Georgia were overshadowed by off-field troubles as the Bulldogs held their first practice Monday.

On Monday, coach Mark Richt announced backup linebacker Darius Dewberry was suspended for the first two games of the season, making him the sixth player to be suspended or dismissed from the team in the offseason.

On Saturday night, Richt announced the indefinite suspensions of two players — snapper Jeff Henson, following his second alcohol-related arrest, and safety Donavon Baldwin, who needed stitches after he was injured in a fight in Athens early Saturday.

The 236-pound Dewberry went to St. Mary’s Hospital to check on Baldwin and another teammate, linebacker Marcus Dowtin, after both suffered cuts when hit with beer bottles at a fight in an Athens bar.

Dewberry broke a barrier on a control arm at the parking lot — with his hands, not his car — and also broke four plant pots.

Richt said Dewberry “was very distraught about a teammate getting hurt badly.” Dewberry has agreed to pay for the damages and the hospital is not pressing charges.

Richt said Dewberry must perform 20 hours of community service, undergo counseling and work a part-time job — including on the Saturdays while he misses the first two games — to pay for damages.

Warford started 11 games for the Wildcats last season, with 41 tackles and two interceptions. The junior from Richmond, Ky., will not be enrolled during the fall semester and will be redshirted by the team. He could return to school in January and be back on the field in 2009.

Three Terp QBs locked in duel. Chris Turner, Jordan Steffy and Josh Portis have been told that their role in Maryland’s season opener will be determined by their play during the preseason.

One will ultimately fill the most important position on the team, running the offense as the starting quarterback. The other two will be forced to watch from the sideline.

Turner has the edge after starting the final eight games last season, but the challengers are also qualified: Steffy was the starter before being knocked out by a concussion, and Portis, deemed academically ineligible in 2007, just might be more athletic than the other two.

Coach Ralph Friedgen hopes one of the three distinguishes himself well before the Aug. 30 opener against Delaware.

Friedgen also said linebacker Dominique Herald would be suspended for the first game for violating team rules.